Animal Species:Barber Perch, Caesioperca rasor (Richardson, 1839)
The Barber Perch can be recognised by its colouration, is found on rocky reefs in temperate marine waters and is endemic to Australia.
Standard Common Name
The Barber Perch has also been called the Barber Sea Perch, Red Perch, Tasmanian Barber.
The Barber Perch can be recognised by its colouration. Small juveniles are pink with a black head. Larger juveniles and females are pink with a blue line under the eyes. Males are yellowish to silvery with a blue spot on each scale. Males have blue lines on the head and blue-margined median fins.
It grows to 26 cm in length.
It is endemic to Australia, occurring from southern Victoria to south-western Western Australia.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Distribution by collection data
The species is found on rocky reefs in temperate marine waters.
- Gomon, M.F. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.